Mom Truths…Adjusting to Life With 2

Baby Boy #2 decided to come one week early on his own.ย  He was 8 pounds 9 ounces and 21 ยฝ inches long.pic1lifewith2

I fell in LOVE at first sight.ย  And he looked so much like his brother, that I felt dรฉjร  vu.ย  {Did I have the same baby all over again?!!}ย 

While pregnant, I wondered what it was going to be like with a newborn and a 2.75 year old.ย  Many friends with multiple children told me that the transition from one to two was the toughest for them. ย pic2lifewith2

This sweet baby came home and ROCKED his big brotherโ€™s world.ย  Itโ€™s been two months and things are still kind of CRAZY!ย  The baby has been the easy one, itโ€™s the 2 year old thatโ€™s the challenge.

So hereโ€™s a glimpse into my new crazy life with 2…

  • ย I am tired.ย  With a newborn, who isnโ€™t tired?! The idea of โ€œsleep while the baby sleeps,โ€ sounds great in theory, but it doesnโ€™t work when you have a toddler running around.ย  ย Plus there is laundry to do and a pile of dishes in the sink. We are starting to get some 4 to 5 hour sleep stretches at night.ย  Iโ€™m holding out hope for more sleep again someday!
  • My toddler acts up.ย  Since the baby came home, the big brother is pretty much doing everything we tell him not to doโ€ฆ jumping on the furniture, throwing toys, kicking at the dog, running around yelling โ€œGo away babyโ€ and overall just not listening.ย  Plus, his nap times have not been going very smoothly. ย He was jumping off the toddler bed one day while I was changing the babyโ€™s diaper, so I asked, โ€œWhat are you doing???!!!!โ€ย  His response, โ€œIโ€™m driving you nuts!โ€ ย {This is true, but Iโ€™d better watch my mouth!} ย I feel horrible on days when it seems like every word out of my mouth is โ€œNOโ€.ย  I will be honest, I am STRUGGLING with how to discipline him.
  • Our TV is on a lot.ย  Mickey Mouse Club House is the current favorite.ย  Luckily, we have a bazillion episodes saved on the DVR.ย  I feel bad about all the TV time, but it is very helpful when trying to get things done like feed the baby, wash bottles and prepare lunch.ย  He doesnโ€™t just sit and stare at the TV.ย  Most of the time heโ€™s standing and playing at the train table too.ย  And he learns from Mickey!ย  I mean, I wasnโ€™t the one who taught him what an octagon is!ย ย  Donโ€™t worry about too much screen time and not enough exercise.ย  This boy is one of the busiest youโ€™ll ever meet!
  • I sent my toddler to preschool.ย  I had been home with both boys for one week, when my husband said, โ€œWhen can we send him to preschool?โ€ย  I said, โ€œNot soon enough!โ€ย  We quickly arranged two mornings a week.ย  This was the best idea my husband ever had!ย  I donโ€™t know who loves it more, me or the kid!
  • I shower every other dayโ€ฆusually.ย  It is hard to find time for something as simple as a shower now that there are two. ย So now I take my showers on the weekend when my husband is home and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during preschool time.
  • I am formula feeding.ย  I was an exclusive pumper with my first.ย  I decided to try breast-feeding again this time.ย  I thought with a different baby, maybe it would work.ย  It didnโ€™t.ย  The nurses had me try a nipple shield.ย  It was AWFUL.ย  I found pumping to be next to impossible.ย  It is double the time pumping and bottle-feeding. ย I donโ€™t have that kind of time when a toddler is bouncing off the walls.ย  Formula was the solution for my sanity!
  • I LOVE my little boys more than anything.ย  The past 2.75 years have been the best of my life.ย  I am thankful for healthy, beautiful boys.ย  Yes, there are hard times, days when Iโ€™ve cried and days when my toddler is โ€œdriving me nuts,โ€ but the boys have truly filled my life full of love and laughter.

I have to wonder, is this how it goes for everyone?

Iโ€™m really not sure if this transition is rougher on the toddler or the mom.ย ย  One thing that is for sure, they wonโ€™t always be this little crying for a bottle or pleading, โ€œmommy play with me.โ€

So even though itโ€™s CRAZY, Iโ€™m trying to cherish ALL of the moments with my little monsters! ย pic3lifewith2

 

Question for all the experienced mommies: How did you survive the transition to 2 kids?ย  How long will it take the oldest to get used to the new sibling?

 

 

Shari
Shari is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband Mark, 2 boys and a pug named Yoda. Her toddler and preschool age boys keep her very busy. She loves warm Iowa days for playing outside with her family. In her "spare time" Shari enjoys quiet activities like crafting, browsing Pinterest, learning photography, creating family photo books and watching favorite shows with her husband. She also loves Iowa City Moms Blog and her MOPS group for the connections with other mommies!

13 COMMENTS

  1. Love your post today, Shari!! No worries…I’m still lucky to get a shower in every other day!! Hang in there… you’re doing your best and it will get better!

  2. This is a very interesting post since my husband and I periodically talk about having another baby. Our daughter is 19-months now and we have had people asking about us having a second as soon as we were out of the hospital! I haven’t been too keen on a second since the first labor went bad (emergency c-section after 30+ hours of non-medicated labor) and knowing we will be able to give a more comfortable life to one child compared to two. Decisions decisions…

  3. Sarah, Yes it is a big decision! Don’t do it until you think you’re ready! Figuring out how to juggle life with a toddler & a baby has proved to be a challenge, but I would do it again. I mean have #2, not 3! ๐Ÿ™‚ Good luck in your decision & do what is right for your family!

  4. I completely understand how you feel. My husband and I just had our 3rd little boy. Our first two were about 30 months apart (which, in retrospect, wasn’t too bad at all), and our 2nd and 3rd are only 14 months apart (which has been very difficult). So that means that we have a just turned 4 year old, 17 month old and 12 week old….it was and still is constant chaos at our home. ๐Ÿ™‚ hang in there!

  5. Oh my…I am pretty sure I have written this same article in my head. Pretty much exactly how I feel and exactly how life with two little boys is going! So much mom guilt…yet we are alll surviving, fed, ,and mostly clean. And, despite all of the lack of listening from number 1 and the lack of sleep brought on my #2 our home is still filled with love. Hang in there! As my mom always says “this to shall pass” and my mother in law once said “little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems.”

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